Provides basic information about the use of groups in occupational therapy. Two different approaches to group work will be studied. Students will have an opportunity to develop and facilitate a group intervention, selecting an approach, justifying that choice, and describing the value of the group to participating clients. Offered fall and spring/summer semesters.
Winter 2026 - Hybrid
This course will examine the impact of inherent and acquired conditions and medical problems on occupational performance components. The course will analyze how the completion of occupational performance areas may be affected as etiology and symptoms are considered. Course will include potential intervention strategies for covered conditions. Offered fall semester. Prerequisite: Admission to the occupational therapy program.
This course is designed to help students develop foundational skills in professional and clinical reasoning. Students will also be introduced to Level I Fieldwork expectations and objectives. Learning module topics include types of clinical and professional reasoning, critical thinking, implicit bias, cultural awareness, and reflective reasoning/judgment to maximize therapeutic outcomes. (0-2-8) Offered fall semester.
Addresses the theories and issues of professional socialization, along with the process of taking on the identity of an occupational therapist, and internalizing professional norms. Content will include the role of the professional association; personal responsibility to the profession in the forms of advocacy, education, leadership, and research; and responsibility to society. Offered fall semester. Prerequisite: Admission to the occupational therapy program.
Spring/Summer 2026 - Online
This course will address the nature of occupational therapy intervention with clients having mental health diagnoses. The content will include approaches to use with different diagnoses, client and therapist safety, ethics related to mental health treatment, settings for mental health treatment, referrals, and documentation. Offered spring/summer and fall semesters.
This is the coordinating laboratory course for OST 558 - Mental Health Services in Occupational Therapy. In this course, students will practice activities and interventions that are used with clients having mental health diagnoses. Activities will include ADLs, small and moderate-sized crafts, prevocational activities, and appropriate play/leisure occupations. Offered spring/summer and winter semesters.
This course will focus on the development of a research proposal including three chapters, an introduction, a focused literature review, and methodology. Students will review successful proposals and have an opportunity to submit drafts before final proposal is due. Successful proposal defense and HRRC approval required to complete course. Course offered winter semester. Prerequisites: Admission to the occupational therapy program and STA 610.
Winter 2026 - Online
This course stresses understanding and applying concepts of evidence-based practice to management and leadership in occupational therapy. Includes study of organizational behaviors, structures, systems, leadership theories, ethics, evaluation, and quality assurance. Focuses on competencies needed for administrative roles and responsibilities. Prerequisites: OST 551, OST 552, and OST 553.
Theoretical and practice concepts, assessment and intervention methods are developed for occupational therapy services at individual, group, and population levels for adults. Students learn to identify barriers to occupational performance at all levels and address barriers through selecting and conducting assessments, designing interventions, conducting advocacy, research, education and documentation. (0-3-0) Course offered spring/summer semester. Prerequisite: OST 563. Corequisites: OST 572 and OST 573.
Spring/Summer 2026 - Hybrid
Laboratory sessions to experience and practice occupational therapy assessments and interventions learned in concurrent adult practice course. Course offered spring/summer semester. Prerequisite: OT 563. Corequisites: OT 571 and OT 573.
This is the second of three Level I Fieldwork experiences in the curriculum. It is designed to provide students familiarity with the adult population and the associated diagnoses and contexts, which complements the didactic experience. Offered spring/summer semester. Prerequisite: OST 563.
Introduces the science of occupation. Discusses the scope, practice, language, culture, and inquiry process for the study of occupation. Includes the relationship of occupation to health and wellness, domestic and global occupation inequities, how occupations are shaped by social and political processes, and ways in which people engage in occupation. Offered fall semester. Prerequisite: Students must be admitted to the occupational therapy program.
The final course of the four-course research sequence focuses on the organization and synthesis of the results of the research project. Following analysis of results, students report these and then discuss findings as related to occupational therapy theory, practice, and education in a document suitable for publication. Course offered spring/summer semester. Prerequisites: STA 610 and OST 564.
The course will focus on principles and tenets of occupational science related to occupational therapy and global occupational justice. Will include a history of occupational science, concepts and research that support occupational therapy practice, with application and reflection on one’s own practice from an occupational science perspective. Offered fall semester. Prerequisite: Admission to the Dr.O.T. program.
The course will further student understanding and application of various influences on the profession of occupational therapy from macro-, meso-, and micro-perspectives. These new perspectives will be used to address the influence these factors have on therapy outcomes within practice settings and occupational performance for clients. Offered winter semester. Prerequisite: Admission to the Dr. O.T. program.
Considers leadership practices that transcend professional boundaries as applied to the disability community, and emphasizes relationships with other professionals, governing boards, regulatory bodies, and key stakeholders. Concepts of change in organizational, community, political, and social action/social movement contexts will be included, along with exploration of personal styles of leadership. Offered spring/summer semester. Prerequisite: Admission to the Dr.O.T. program.
The course is designed to enhance current practice through the application of evidence-based interventions. Includes development of line of inquiry, based on clinical scenarios, with intent to demonstrate population-specific outcomes, validity of intervention, and cost effectiveness of service delivery. Offered fall and winter semesters. Prerequisite: Admission to the Dr. O.T. program or consent of instructor.
The course is designed to help students develop skills in teaching critical thinking to make learning transformative. Includes elements and activities related to critical thinking. Theoretical constructs and learner-centered strategies to support perspective transformation are presented to help learners transform their own perceptions of health care and health care clients. Offered winter semester. Prerequisite: Admission to the Dr. O.T. program or consent of the instructor.
Course will explore advanced topics in occupational therapy practice. Topics are based on current evidence, healthcare trends, and emerging practice areas. Specific topics will be identified by the instructor and students via online survey. Students will engage in individual/ small group research, analysis, and dissemination of topics through course assignments. Offered every semester. Prerequisites: Admission to the Dr.O.T. program.
The first course in the Dr. O.T. doctoral sequence, this course will focus on topic development, nature and scope of project, and identification of community partners as needed. Students who are selecting a research-oriented project will also be expected to complete an IRB proposal and gain approval before implementation. Offered spring/summer semester. Prerequisite: Admission to the Dr.O.T. program.
The final course in the Dr.O.T. project sequence, students will complete implementation of project and publicly defend the results and assessment of the project. Students will also display their project results in a poster format, which will be on exhibit at the time of the defense. Offered every semester. Prerequisite: Admission to the Dr.O.T. program.
